Malawi’s governing Peoples Party (PP) spokesperson Hophmally Makande has accused the former head of Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of costing a lot of public funds due to his inabilities and incompetence while serving his position.

Immediately after the new People’s Party government took power, Nampota was arrested and granted bail on abuse of office charges before being fired and latter a dispute over his benefits ensued. There was more than a year left on his contract when President Joyce Banda, who took over after Mutharika’s death, fired the ACB director.

He has been replaced with Supreme Court Judge Rezine Mzikamanda.

Makande: Says Nampota was incompetent

During the interview, outspoken Makande accused Nampota of shielding fat corrupt cats during the Mutharika regime.

“If we had taken issues that were already on the ground we could have served a lot we have lost” said Makande.

He said government lost a lot of money and cases because of Nampota’s “lack of professionalism.”

On Tuesday, published reports indicated that Nampota was paid over K70 million to compensate him for his removal from the post and pave way for a new director at the institution.

Commenting on the pay-out, Makande said he did not have any problem with it.

The former ACB boss also declined to comment on his compensation, telling Daily Times: “I want to move on with life. Everyone knows that I was mistreated,” he said.

Nampota first joined the ACB at its inception in 1997 as deputy director and then left the bureau in March 2004 at the end of his contract which was not renewed.

Later, he was appointed as ACB director in 2007.

In defence of JB

Makande also used the interview to defend the current administration, saying it has taken a right path citing the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) as one of the tools that will help in rescuing the Malawi’s slipping economy.

He also defended President Joyce Banda’s unending local and international trips describing them as necessary and productive.

Makande said the President through her local travel has managed to notice for herself cases of hunger some Malawians are facing in many districts.

He claimed the maize President Banda has been distributing to the needy is being purchased using her personal money she raised from “external connections”.

“The money she is distributing is from her own pocket; it’s what her friends have helped her it’s not from the government,” explained Makande.